To Vacation or Not to Vacation

I just recently finished a week's vacation in Baja. My body must have really needed the break, since it felt so great to have vacation-time. In addition, it has been hard to get back into the working grove, as least mentally and emotionally, since the vacation ended some four days ago. In the early days, when I started my company, the idea of vacation was completely foreign. Who would do the work, what if "George called", and who is going to earn the money to pay the bills? These were the crazy thoughts that raced through my brain.

About 8 years ago, I took a series of classes on creating balance in your life. One of the big challenges for me, when I took this class, is finding time for myself and giving myself permission to take time off. The classes challenge was to take between 4-6 weeks off each year. Ouch, for sure that much time away from my job was scary. Fortunately, I was able to learn how to give myself more time off. Taking this week's vacation, or the week I will be taking to go camping this summer, is just the "personal medicine" I need. Creating balance between work goals, personal goals, fun time, contribution/spiritual time, and family/relationships is not an easy task. I find, for me, taking vacation time is a great way to create more balance with my family and have some fun. I hope you too are planning on taking care of yourself with some time off for vacation. Don't put it off, but make it a life goal for 2008!

Comments

[Jeff Cozens]

Adrianne, thanks for the feedback. It hard to shift from a "fear based" thinking to a "positive based thinking". From my past experience, if you plan for vacation time, your revenue and profits can actually improve, when you take time to "take a vacation break". I encourage everyone small business owner or employee to believe in themselves and take time to refresh you personal batteries through v-time.

Jeff

[Adrianne Machina]

Great post Jeff! Business owners and corporate executives have a tendency to spend too much time working, and get out of balance. Said another way, "Too much work and no play makes Jeff a dull boy."

Vacation is a great way to replenish your creative juices and get some perspective on your priorities.